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Sunday, April 26, 2015

Allergies in
dogs can be very frustrating for the owner.
Often the problem is chronic and the best thing you can do is try to
control the dog’s reaction to the allergens.
Three types of allergens can affect dogs. All three types will usually manifest
themselves by causing dermatitis (inflammation of the skin). However, the location, severity, and
reoccurrence of the skin lesions help to narrow down what type of allergen is
causing the issue. Some dogs will also
show respiratory symptoms such as runny eyes, coughing, or difficulty
breathing. The three types of allergens
are:

Localized (Contact) Allergens: These are allergens that come into direct
contact with the dog’s skin and cause an allergic reaction. The most common allergens are grass and
pollen. Localized allergens usually cause
dermatitis on the dog’s feet or belly.
You will see your dog chewing or licking their feet. This aggravates and inflames the skin even
more, which in turn causes the dog to lick and chew. It can become a vicious cycle.

The best way to
prevent contact allergens is to prevent the contact. First, make sure the hair on your dog’s feet
is clipped short. The hair can trap the
allergen against the skin. Next, rinse
your dog’s feet off when he comes in from being in the grass; or alternatively,
have your dog wear booties on his feet when he is outside. If your dog is severely sensitive to these
allergens, then he may require medication, such as anti-histamine or steroid
therapy.

Food Allergens:
The
most common ingredients in food that dogs are sensitive to are: beef, chicken, pork,
wheat, corn, and soy. However, they can
be sensitive to other ingredients as well.
One of the ways to determine if your dog has a food allergy is to note
whether or not the skin lesions are present all year round or seasonally. Due to the fact your dog is exposed to his
food all year, these allergies never clear up.
Also, food allergy dermatitis will often cause chronic ear infections
because the skin inside the ear is the most sensitive skin on the dog’s
body. Other allergens can cause ear
infections, so an ear infection doesn’t guarantee your dog has a food
sensitivity, but you would definitely need to rule it out as a possibility.

Diagnosis of a
food allergy is done by starting a feeding trial. A feeding trial involves placing your dog on
a very restricted diet consisting of ingredients not found in your dog’s normal
diet. There are commercially available
foods for this purpose or a home-made meal can also be used. The feeding trial needs to be conducted for
several months to give the dog’s skin time to heal and for all the allergens to
be eliminated from the dog’s system. It
is also very important to cut out treats, table scraps, etc. during the feeding
trial to eliminate them as the possible source of the allergens. Once a diagnosis of food sensitivity has been
confirmed, you can try reintroducing your dog to different treats and dog foods
to determine which specific ingredients your dog is sensitive to.

Generalized Allergens: There are a variety of allergens that can
cause generalized reactions in dogs.
These include: dust, pollen, dander, fleas, molds, cigarette smoke,
cleaning solutions, and shampoos. Dogs
with severe generalized reactions are often sensitive to more than one
allergen. These can be difficult to
completely control. Diagnosis is usually
done by a dermatologist who runs a skin test to determine sensitivities to
common allergens. Finding out what
allergens your dog is sensitive to is key to being able to control the
symptoms. The more you can limit your
dog’s exposure to the allergens, the more successful you will be at controlling
your dog’s reactions.

Treatment of
generalized sensitivity reactions usually involves multiple steps. The first step is limiting your dog’s
exposure to the allergen; second, use of a topical treatment on the inflamed
skin, such as medicated shampoos, steroid sprays, etc.; third, giving oral medications,
such as fatty acid supplements, anti-histamines, and/or steroids. Allergy injections may also be needed to help
de-sensitize your dog to the offending allergen.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Several types of
skin tumors can affect dogs. Most are benign. However, some skin tumors are malignant.

The benign
tumors are usually slow growing, soft, and free moving; meaning that you can
grasp them and move them around under the skin.
Benign tumors include: skin tags, warts, moles, and lipomas. Skin tags, warts, and moles look similar to
the ones we get. They are unsightly, but
harmless. Lipomas are fatty tumors that
are very slow growing and soft. Lipomas
are very common in older, overweight dogs.
They typically don’t cause any problems unless they are located in an
area that restricts movement; such as under a front limb.

The most common
malignant tumors found under the skin are Mast Cell Tumors and Osteosarcomas. Both of these tumors are usually fast
growing, hard, and attached to the tissue under the skin.

Mast Cell tumors
are very common and can be found in all breeds.
However, Boxers, Beagles, and Boston Terriers are the breeds most
commonly affected. These tumors can be
found anywhere on the body, but are often located on the limbs. They can change shape and size very
rapidly. Mast Cell tumors are made up of
cells the body uses to respond to inflammation and allergies. These tumors can release high amounts of these
cells into the dog’s body and cause damage to the internal organs. Some Mast Cell tumors remain localized, but
others can metastasize to other regions of the body. It is very important to have Mast Cell tumors
removed and sent for a biopsy to determine the malignancy and risk to the dog’s
overall health.

Osteosarcomas
are bone tumors. These tumors are highly
malignant. They are most commonly seen
at the elbow, wrist, or shoulder.
However, any bone can be affected.
Limping on the affected limb is usually the first symptom. However, often times the tumor isn’t noticed
until it becomes visible. At the point
when it is visible, there is a 90% chance it has already metastasized to
another area of the body, usually the lungs.
Treatment of osteosarcoma is very aggressive and usually involves
chemotherapy or radiation.

In conclusion,
although there are many types of skin tumors that are benign, it is important
to have all tumors examined by your veterinarian, so that treatment of malignant
tumors can begin as early as possible.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Fatty liver,
also known as hepatic lipidosis, is the most common liver disease in cats. When the body is in starvation mode, it
quickly shifts fat cells to the liver.
It does this so the liver can convert the fat into lipoproteins for
energy. However, the cat’s liver is not
very good at converting these fat cells.
So, the fat accumulates in the liver.
As the fat builds up, the liver starts to lose its ability to function.

The liver has
many jobs in the body. These include:
detoxification, protein synthesis, and the production of chemicals used in
digestion. The liver also helps break
down red blood cells and produces clotting factors to aid in blood
clotting. Because of its many jobs, when
the liver starts to fail, you will see several symptoms.

Hepatic
lipidosis is usually caused by a cat’s loss of appetite. This can be caused by illness (such as
diabetes or kidney disease), stress, extreme diet restrictions by owners, or
being lost.

The most obvious
symptom is yellowing of the eyes and mucous membranes. This is referred to as jaundice in people,
but is referred to as icterus in animals.
Other symptoms include: anorexia, vomiting, lethargy, neurologic
symptoms, and depression.

The most
important treatment is prevention by paying close attention to your cat’s
eating habits. If your cat loses its
appetite, it is important to discover the underlying cause and get it treated
before the liver starts to deteriorate. Hepatic
lipidosis can be life-threatening, so the earlier treatment is started, the
higher chance of your cat’s liver recovering.

Early symptoms of liver disease include: weight loss,
loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and increased thirst. In most cases, if the underlying cause of the
liver damage is found and treated during this early stage, then the liver will
heal and return to normal function.

Symptoms of liver failure include: icterus (yellowing of
the eyes or gums), ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdomen), spontaneous
bleeding, and neurologic symptoms (disorientation, head-pressing, dullness, and
seizures). Once the liver has advanced
to the stage of liver failure, the chances of regaining liver function are very
slim. However, many dogs can survive
with chronic treatment, such as IV fluids, medications, and a special diet.

The most important factor in liver disease is to prevent
the underlying causes by having your puppy properly vaccinated, keeping your
pet away from potential toxins, and using therapeutic drugs according to your
veterinarian’s instructions.
Additionally, if you suspect that your pet has been exposed to toxins or
has overdosed on NSAIDS, it is important to seek treatment as early as
possible.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

BOOK DESCRIPTION:Rachel Somerfield has spent most of her life in Whitman’s Orphanage for Young Girls in New York City. As she approaches her eighteenth birthday, her future looks very bleak. Everything changes the day she runs into Mathew Compton, a dashing young man, who sweeps her off her feet and offers her a chance at happiness. However, things don’t turn out as Rachel hopes, and she finds herself accepting a teaching position in Sand Hill, a small western town. She arrives in Sand Hill penniless, scared, and alone.

Sheriff Chance Scott has been raising his son, John, alone since his wife died giving him birth. He loved his wife very much, and has given up on the idea of ever finding that kind of love again. He’s resigned to raising his son on his own. When the new school teacher arrives, he finds out that she’s in desperate need of his help. Is life offering him a second chance at love? Is it worth risking another broken heart to find out?
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